Topical Bible: The Law of God: Sin is a Transgression of

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The concept of sin as a transgression of the Law of God is a foundational tenet in Christian theology, deeply rooted in the Scriptures. The Law, as given by God, serves as a divine standard of righteousness and moral conduct. Sin, therefore, is understood as any action, thought, or omission that deviates from this divine standard.

Biblical Definition of Sin

The Apostle John provides a clear definition of sin in his epistle: "Everyone who practices sin practices lawlessness as well. Indeed, sin is lawlessness" (1 John 3:4). This verse succinctly encapsulates the essence of sin as a violation of God's Law. The term "lawlessness" implies a willful disregard for the commandments and statutes established by God.

The Origin of Sin

The origin of sin is traced back to the disobedience of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. In Genesis 2:16-17 , God commands Adam, "You may eat freely from every tree of the garden, but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for in the day that you eat of it, you will surely die." The subsequent act of eating the forbidden fruit (Genesis 3:6) represents the first human transgression of God's command, introducing sin into the world.

The Role of the Law

The Law, as given through Moses, serves multiple purposes. It reveals the holiness of God and the sinfulness of humanity. Paul, in his epistle to the Romans, explains, "Therefore no one will be justified in His sight by works of the law. For the law merely brings awareness of sin" (Romans 3:20). The Law acts as a mirror, reflecting human shortcomings and the need for divine grace.

The Universality of Sin

Scripture affirms the universality of sin, asserting that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). This universal condition underscores the pervasive nature of sin as a transgression of God's Law, affecting every individual regardless of status or heritage.

The Consequences of Sin

The consequences of sin are both temporal and eternal. Sin disrupts the relationship between humanity and God, leading to spiritual death. As Paul writes, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23). This death is not merely physical but signifies a separation from the life-giving presence of God.

Redemption from Sin

Despite the grave consequences of sin, the Bible proclaims the hope of redemption through Jesus Christ. Christ's sacrificial death and resurrection provide atonement for sin, fulfilling the righteous requirements of the Law. As stated in 2 Corinthians 5:21 , "God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God."

The Call to Holiness

Believers are called to live in accordance with God's Law, empowered by the Holy Spirit to overcome sin. The Apostle Peter exhorts, "As obedient children, do not conform to the passions of your former ignorance. But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do" (1 Peter 1:14-15). This call to holiness reflects the transformative power of God's grace in the life of a believer, enabling them to live in obedience to His commandments.

In summary, sin as a transgression of the Law of God is a central theme in the biblical narrative, highlighting the need for divine intervention and the transformative power of redemption through Jesus Christ.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

1 John 3:4
Whoever commits sin transgresses also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Greek

458. anomia -- lawlessness
... lawlessness, iniquity Definition: lawlessness, iniquity, disobedience, sin. ... utter
disregard for God's law (His written ... influence on a person's ( before God). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/458.htm - 7k

Library

Whether Transgression is a Special Sin?
... 36), "a custom of God's people should be looked upon as law." Hence both sin and
transgression may be against a laudable custom and against a natural ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether transgression is a special.htm

Concerning the Law of God and the Law of Sin.
... this, is law, that we, holding by it, may walk in light [2632] : and the transgression
of this precept is sin, and this ... And so the law of God, settling in ...
/.../john/exposition of the orthodox faith/chapter xxii concerning the law of.htm

On the First Sin of the First Man
... III. This sin, therefore, is a transgression of the law which was delivered by God,
to the first human beings, about not eating the fruit of the tree of the ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 1/disputation 7 on the first.htm

Sin.
... unto us when we have opportunity is wrong and displeasing to God. ... sin in these words:
"Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/orr/the gospel day /chapter iii sin.htm

"And if any Man Sin, we have an Advocate with the Father,",
... That accusation of the word and law against us is ... He shows God's bond and discharge
of the receipt of the ... whoever you are that are challenged for sin, and the ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xxv and if any.htm

The Manner in which Man Conducted Himself for Fulfilling the First ...
... X. The serious enormity of that sin is principally manifest from the following ... to
try whether man was willing to be subject to the law of God, and it ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 2/disputation xxx the manner in.htm

Question And. . Question Reversed
... ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION. Sin is the transgression of the law; therefore, God will
be the author of sin, if He cause any man to transgress the law. ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 1/question and question reversed.htm

On Actual Sins
... of God; or the omission of something which has been commanded by that law to be
thought, spoken or done." Or, with more brevity, "Sin is the transgression of ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 1/disputation 8 on actual sins.htm

God's Glory in Hiding Sin
... So everything under the Mosaic law had its covering; and God has a ... covering sin,
and covering the sinner too, within and without, till all his sin is gone ...
/.../spurgeon/sermons on proverbs/gods glory in hiding sin.htm

The Consequences of Sin.
... It entails suffering. God's law is that all sin must be punished"that
is, where there is transgression, suffering must follow. ...
/.../xlvii the consequences of sin.htm